Battle of Kamdesh
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the War in Afghanistan. It occurred on October 3, 2009, when a force of 300 Taliban assaulted the American Combat Outpost (COP) Keating near the town of Kamdesh
of Nuristan province in eastern Afghanistan
. The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat
in July 2008, which occurred 20 miles (32.2 km) away from Kamdesh. The attack on COP Keating resulted in eight Americans killed and 22 wounded.
As a result of the battle, COP Keating was nearly completely destroyed. Observation Post (OP) Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. A deliberate withdrawal had been planned some time before the battle began, and the closing was part of a wider effort by the top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to cede remote outposts and consolidate troops in more populated areas to better protect Afghan civilians. The Americans "...declared the outpost closed and departed — so quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. The outpost’s depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."
Coalition
forces had established two outposts in a valley near Kamdesh about 20 miles (32.2 km) from the Pakistan
border, COP Keating and OP Fritsche. COP Keating, the larger of the two small outposts, was manned primarily by US soldiers and was isolated and exposed to high ground. The road to the base was vulnerable to high ground and ambushes. The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty minute flight away.
OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. US Army soldiers at both outposts had been ordered to prepare to evacuate them and had informed local Afghan leaders of their intention to do so.
COP Keating was manned by Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron
"Destroyers", 61st Cavalry Regiment. In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. At the time, Afghan national forces were under the supervision and were being trained by members of the Latvian OMLT.
COP Keating was planned to be closed by August 2009, but the move was delayed because of other military operations in a nearby district. Because Keating was scheduled for closure in the near future, coalition leaders had decided not to make more than minimal efforts to fortify the base.
Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence
reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted.
About 3:00 am on October 3, insurgents ordered all Kamdesh villagers to leave the area. At 6:00 am, the fighters opened fire from all sides of the outpost with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, immediately putting the Americans' mortar pit out of action. Observation Post Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. Coalition forces responded with small arms fire, mortars, and by the afternoon, helicopters, heavy artillery, and airstrikes.
The attackers overran Keating's perimeter defenses about 48 minutes into the battle. Breaches occurred at a latrine area close to the perimeter wire, the main entrance where civilian guards, ASG (Afghan Security Guards) were overwhelmed, and from the eastern side—where Afghan National Army soldiers were stationed. Despite the efforts of two Latvian military advisors, who tried to convince the ANA (Afghan National Army) forces not to flee, the Afghan defenders quickly broke and ran. US soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. During and after the battle, some of the Afghan soldiers stole items, including digital cameras and protein drinks, belonging to American soldiers at the base.
Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks, Within the first hour, the American defenders had collapsed to a tight internal perimeter, centered on the 2 unburning buildings. Regrouping there they pushed out teams to retake much of the COP. They expanded the perimeter all the way back to the ECP (entry control point) and to the buildings on the western edge of the COP, which became their final fighting position. US air support directed by SGT Armando Avalos and SGT Jayson Souter, including attack helicopters, a B-1 bomber, and F-15 fighters destroyed the local mosque where much of the insurgent's heaviest fire originated. Once OP Fritshce soldiers gained control of their mortar pit SGT Avalos began directing indirect support to help the defensive of COP Keating. Two USAF F-15E fighter bombers circled overhead, led by Captain Mike Polidor and 1st Lieutenant Aaron Dove, for almost eight hours helping coordinate airstrikes by 19 other aircraft.
The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. Quick reaction forces from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment did not reach the outpost until 7:00 pm that day, while insurgents remained in parts of the outpost as late as 5:10 pm. Relief may have been slow in reaching COP Keating due to bad weather.
The outpost was evacuated two days later, and bombed on October 6 by a B-1 bomber to prevent insurgents from looting the munitions abandoned in the hasty withdrawal.
), Christopher Griffin (Kincheloe, Michigan
), Kevin C. Thompson (Reno, Nevada
), Michael P. Scusa (Villas, New Jersey
), Vernon W. Martin (Savannah, Georgia
), Stephan L. Mace (Lovettsville, Virginia
), Joshua J. Kirk (South Portland, Maine
), and Joshua M. Hardt (Applegate, California
).
On October 5 and 6, Coalition troops conducted operations in the area in an attempt to locate and destroy the Taliban forces responsible for the attack on the outposts. Another 10 Afghan soldiers and 40 Taliban fighters were killed during these operations.
American forces had already planned to pull out of the area as part of a plan to move forces to more densely populated areas, so closure of the base was imminent when the attack occurred. The attack accelerated those plans, with the troops' departure taking place so quickly after the battle that some munitions were abandoned. "The outpost’s depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."
The flight crew of a United States Air Force
F-15E was later decorated for actions during the battle. Captains Mike Polidor, pilot, and Aaron Dove, weapons system officer, were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for coordinating strikes on the attacking Taliban by 19 coalition aircraft during the battle.
The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apaches were later decorated for actions during the battle. CPT Matthew Kaplan, CW3 Ross Lewallen, CW3 Randy Huff, CW2 Gary Wingert, CW2 Chad Bardwell, and CW2 Chris Wright were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conducting close combat attacks on the Taliban during the battle.
Kamdish, Nurestan
Kāmdīsh or Kāmdēsh is a village, located in the Bashgal Valley, in Nurestan Province, Afghanistan. It is the capital of the Kamdesh district....
of Nuristan province in eastern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat
Battle of Wanat
The Battle of Wanat occurred on July 13, 2008, when about 200 Taliban guerrillas attacked NATO troops near the village of Wanat in the Waygal district in Afghanistan's far eastern province of Nuristan. The position was defended primarily by U.S...
in July 2008, which occurred 20 miles (32.2 km) away from Kamdesh. The attack on COP Keating resulted in eight Americans killed and 22 wounded.
As a result of the battle, COP Keating was nearly completely destroyed. Observation Post (OP) Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. A deliberate withdrawal had been planned some time before the battle began, and the closing was part of a wider effort by the top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to cede remote outposts and consolidate troops in more populated areas to better protect Afghan civilians. The Americans "...declared the outpost closed and departed — so quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. The outpost’s depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."
Background
The battle took place about 20 miles (32.2 km) northeast of the Battle of Wanat that occurred a year previously. Described as the "Black Hawk Down" of the War in Afghanistan, Wanat was one of the bloodiest attacks of the war.Coalition
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
forces had established two outposts in a valley near Kamdesh about 20 miles (32.2 km) from the Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
border, COP Keating and OP Fritsche. COP Keating, the larger of the two small outposts, was manned primarily by US soldiers and was isolated and exposed to high ground. The road to the base was vulnerable to high ground and ambushes. The nearest attack helicopters were located in Jalalabad, a thirty minute flight away.
OP Fritsche was established to provide overwatch for COP Keating and was manned by a mix of US and Afghan national forces. US Army soldiers at both outposts had been ordered to prepare to evacuate them and had informed local Afghan leaders of their intention to do so.
COP Keating was manned by Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron
601st Tank Destroyer Battalion
The 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion was a battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War. It was the first of the newly formed tank destroyer battalions to see combat, and the only one to fight as a "pure" tank destroyer force...
"Destroyers", 61st Cavalry Regiment. In addition, Afghan national forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks at various locations around the area. At the time, Afghan national forces were under the supervision and were being trained by members of the Latvian OMLT.
COP Keating was planned to be closed by August 2009, but the move was delayed because of other military operations in a nearby district. Because Keating was scheduled for closure in the near future, coalition leaders had decided not to make more than minimal efforts to fortify the base.
Coalition forces received three human-source intelligence
HUMINT
HUMINT, a syllabic abbreviation of the words HUMan INTelligence, refers to intelligence gathering by means of interpersonal contact, as opposed to the more technical intelligence gathering disciplines such as SIGINT, IMINT and MASINT...
reports sometime before the battle indicating that insurgents were planning an attack on the outposts. Because the reports had not been verified by other intelligence sources, such as electronic intelligence, the reports were discounted.
Battle
The attackers overran Keating's perimeter defenses about 48 minutes into the battle. Breaches occurred at a latrine area close to the perimeter wire, the main entrance where civilian guards, ASG (Afghan Security Guards) were overwhelmed, and from the eastern side—where Afghan National Army soldiers were stationed. Despite the efforts of two Latvian military advisors, who tried to convince the ANA (Afghan National Army) forces not to flee, the Afghan defenders quickly broke and ran. US soldiers reported that none of the Afghan soldiers held their ground. During and after the battle, some of the Afghan soldiers stole items, including digital cameras and protein drinks, belonging to American soldiers at the base.
Once inside, the attackers set fire to the base, burning down most of the barracks, Within the first hour, the American defenders had collapsed to a tight internal perimeter, centered on the 2 unburning buildings. Regrouping there they pushed out teams to retake much of the COP. They expanded the perimeter all the way back to the ECP (entry control point) and to the buildings on the western edge of the COP, which became their final fighting position. US air support directed by SGT Armando Avalos and SGT Jayson Souter, including attack helicopters, a B-1 bomber, and F-15 fighters destroyed the local mosque where much of the insurgent's heaviest fire originated. Once OP Fritshce soldiers gained control of their mortar pit SGT Avalos began directing indirect support to help the defensive of COP Keating. Two USAF F-15E fighter bombers circled overhead, led by Captain Mike Polidor and 1st Lieutenant Aaron Dove, for almost eight hours helping coordinate airstrikes by 19 other aircraft.
The insurgents began to retreat later in the day. Quick reaction forces from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment did not reach the outpost until 7:00 pm that day, while insurgents remained in parts of the outpost as late as 5:10 pm. Relief may have been slow in reaching COP Keating due to bad weather.
The outpost was evacuated two days later, and bombed on October 6 by a B-1 bomber to prevent insurgents from looting the munitions abandoned in the hasty withdrawal.
Aftermath
Eight US soldiers were killed and 22 wounded; eight Afghan soldiers were wounded, along with two Afghan private security guards. The US military estimated that 150 Taliban militants were also killed as a result of repulsing the assault. The US soldiers killed in the battle were: Justin T. Gallegos (Tucson, ArizonaTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
), Christopher Griffin (Kincheloe, Michigan
Kincheloe, Michigan
Kincheloe Air Force Base was a U.S. Air Force base during the Cold War. Built in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1943 during World War II, the base was in service until 1977....
), Kevin C. Thompson (Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
), Michael P. Scusa (Villas, New Jersey
Villas, New Jersey
Villas, better known as the Villas, is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lower Township, in Cape May County, New Jersey. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area...
), Vernon W. Martin (Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
), Stephan L. Mace (Lovettsville, Virginia
Lovettsville, Virginia
Lovettsville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 853 at the 2000 census. The 2005-2009 American Community Survey estimated the population at 1187.-History:Following the 1722 Treaty of St...
), Joshua J. Kirk (South Portland, Maine
South Portland, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of...
), and Joshua M. Hardt (Applegate, California
Applegate, California
Applegate is an unincorporated community in Placer County, California. Applegate is located south-southwest of Colfax.It lies at an elevation of 2005 feet . Its ZIP code is 95703 and its area code 530....
).
On October 5 and 6, Coalition troops conducted operations in the area in an attempt to locate and destroy the Taliban forces responsible for the attack on the outposts. Another 10 Afghan soldiers and 40 Taliban fighters were killed during these operations.
American forces had already planned to pull out of the area as part of a plan to move forces to more densely populated areas, so closure of the base was imminent when the attack occurred. The attack accelerated those plans, with the troops' departure taking place so quickly after the battle that some munitions were abandoned. "The outpost’s depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."
The flight crew of a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
F-15E was later decorated for actions during the battle. Captains Mike Polidor, pilot, and Aaron Dove, weapons system officer, were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
for coordinating strikes on the attacking Taliban by 19 coalition aircraft during the battle.
The flight crews of three United States Army AH-64D Apaches were later decorated for actions during the battle. CPT Matthew Kaplan, CW3 Ross Lewallen, CW3 Randy Huff, CW2 Gary Wingert, CW2 Chad Bardwell, and CW2 Chris Wright were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conducting close combat attacks on the Taliban during the battle.